Take-up mechanism for shoe-sewing machines.



N. 729,604. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.,

` J. L. KIEEFEE. v TAKE-UP MEGHANISM FOR SHOE SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 20. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

I Eni- I IZ 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

`Witnesses: l 99 Imr/entor, n -Q D JWM/ame;

l [Er-2' Attorneys No. 729,604. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903. vJ. L. KIEIFER.TAKE-UP MEGHANISM FOR SHOE SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 20, 1902.

f5 oo 55 E8 Attorneys vhad so far a downward swing that it was` PatentedJune 2, 1903.

aTnNr Neinen..

JOSEPH LOUIS KIEFFER, OF'MOTREAL, CANADA.

TAKE-UP MECHANISIVI FOR SHOE-SEWING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,604, dated June 2,1903.

Original application filed May 1, 1902, Serial No. 105,493. Divividedand this application led October 20, 1902. Serial No.127,967. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH LOUIS KIEFFER, Y

a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Montreal, in thecounty of Hochelaga,

in the Province of Quebec, Canada, have in'- vented certain new anduseful Improvement-s in Take-Up Mechanism for Shoe-Sewing Machines; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in shoe-sewing machinery of thatclass technically known as the outsole-stitcher -that is to say, to amachine adapted to sew the sole of the shoe to the welt thereof, and .toform a lockstitoh by means of two interlocking threads, which are loopedtogether in the wellknown manner of sewing-machines.

The principal object in view of the invention herein described is toVprovide an improved arrangement of the parts of the takeup mechanismused on this class of machinery, and to avoid a difliculty of themachine at present in use which has'been caused by the interference ofthe auxiliary takeup-arm with the motion of one of the cam-levers of themachine, or rather of the gear-segment carried by that lever, which incertain adjustments caused to strike against the said auxiliary sutticeto break the auxiliaryarm itself.

A further object of myinventionis to pro` vide means for resilientlysupporting said auxiliary takeup-arm in order to tighten .the threadtothe requisite extent, while at the same time preventing any liabilityof its becoming broken.

To these ends myinvention consists in the improved conformation of theauxiliary takeup-arm, whereby more room is obtained for the oscillationof the machine cam-levers, this conformation of the said arm being a UorJ shape, the short arm of which projects downwardly and the long armupwardly through and between the two rollers of the main takeup-arm; anda spring-support is provided which presses outwardly against the arm andholds it in raised position, at the same time permitting it to yieldupon the drawing up of theslack thread, whereby to enable an adjustabletension to be brought on the arm without breaking the said thread.

Myinvention further includes a particular and improved form ot'thread-locking device for preventing the back motion of the thread atany time, andin particular during the action of the pull-off motion,which thread-locking device is mounted on the shaft of the auxiliarytakeup-arm.

My invention further consists in the particular construction andcombination of parts hereinafter to be described and which will appearfrom the detailed description hereinafter given, and are moreparticularly pointed out in the accompanyingclaims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-Figure l is a side elevation from `the left side of the parts of anyordinary outsolestitcher concerned in the operation of my takeupmechanism, the latter being shown fixed thereto in position and theparts coperating therewith. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 isa front-torear sectional elevation taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig.4 isa front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3, parts being brokenaway. Fig. 5 is a central plan section taken on the line 5 5 of AYFigs.3 and 4. takeup-arm and would break the thread by y so doing, or in somecases the blow would even The same numerals of reference denote likeparts in all the figures of the drawings.

All those parts of the machine which do not concern the invention hereindescribed are omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness, andtoy understand the general construction of the machine reference may behad to my original application, Serial No. 105,493, filed May l, 1902,of which this is a division.

In general, 6 designates the main frame of the machine, comprising abase-plate 7, secured to the pedestal S and having an upstanding arm 9,which supports the pivot-pin 10 ofthe takeup-lever l1, this lastbeing-operated by the cam-groove 12 in the cam-block 13, keyed to themain shaftla of the machine.

At the rear of the machine is, as usual, a bracket-arm 15, whichsupports the pivot-bolt IIO 16 of the tension-whee1-17, which latter isprovided withany suitable friction-disk 18, frictionallypressed againstit by the spring 19, which is adjustable by the handle 2O of thescrew-spindle 21, which enters the threaded socket on the end of thepivot-bolt 1G. The tension-wheel17 has a groove 22 in which t-ne threadruns, the latter being wound around said wheel, s as to prevent it frombeing drawn frictionally thereover. All this mechanism as thus fardescribed forms no part of my present invention.

The tension-wheel 17 is adapted to be locked against turning'during theoperation of the takeup mechanism by the locking-lever 23, which has alug or projection 24 projecting into the groove 22 of the tension-wheel,and which is operated b v a suitable cam mounted on the main shaft ofthe machine to depress the lug 24 against the groove of the tension-Wheel during the motion of the takeup mechanism and to release it at.other times.

The cam-groove 12, which operates the takeup-lever 11, has a sharp peak25 at one point thereof, which causes the lever t0 be suddenly thrownupwardly and back again, this operation taking place just as thethreadloop is passed over the bobbin. At its forward end thetakeup-lever has pivoted thereto, as shown, a long depending link 26,which has a slight bend 27 near its lower end to er1- able it to avoidthe stitch-forming and feed mechanism and is connected at its lower endby a pivot-screw 27 to the main takeup-arm 28 at a short distanceforwardly of its pivot upon the bolt 29, which is of the formillustrated in Fig. 5. The bolt 29 has a shouldered shank composed of anenlarged portion 30 and a reduced portion 31, the former of which formsthe pivot for the hub 32, of the takeup-arm 28, the bolt having a head33, which serves to confine the hub 32, and having the shoulder of theshank 31 set against a projecting lug 34, formed on the base-plate 7 ofthe frame, and the bolt 29 is clamped in position in the manner shown inFigs. 4 and 5 and which will be presently referred to. The takeup-arm 28has a slight angular bend at the point where it joins thelink 26 and hasalso at this point a grooved thread-roll 35 and at its outer end asimilar grooved thread-roll 36, pivoted, respectively, upon thepivotscrews .271 and 37. It will thus be seen that the cam 12 is adaptedto give the takeup-arm 11 a swinging movement upwardly through an arcsomewhat greater than ninety degrees.

With the takeup-arm coperates an auxiliary arm 38, which takes the placeof a bracketarm formerly projecting horizontally from the base-plate 7;but, as herein shown, the arm is of U or J shape, having the shorter armpivoted upon the bolt 29, or rather upon a short sleeve 39, looselymounted upon the shank portion 31 of the bolt, which sleeve is adaptedto be clamped in position with the other parts and is therefore madeslightly longer than the hub of the auxiliary arm, Fig. 5, in order toenable the arm to have a free pivotal motion-thereon. The auxiliary arm38 passes irst downwardly and beneath the takenparm 28, as shown inFig. 1. It thence passes upwardly between the two thread-rolls 35 and 36and carries at the upper end thereof a grooved thread-roll 41, which ismounted on the pivot-screw 42 and has an arched shield 43, through theeye of which and over the thread-roll the machine-thread 44 is adaptedto be passed. The auxiliary arm 38 is further provided near its basewith a compressionspring 45, which is supported in shallow apertu resbored in the opposing faces of the auxiliary arm and the frame, as shownin Fig. l, and which resiliently supports the auxiliary arm in itsraised position, so as to hold the thread-roll 41 in opposition to thedownward motion of the thread-rolls 35 and 36. Furthe-rm ore, the hub 40of the auxiliary artn has a backwardly extending tongue 46, (best shownin Figs. 2 and 3,) which tongue is adapted to rest' normally upon theHat snrface of the base-plate'7, but to be raised slightly when theauxiliary arm is depressed by the tension of the thread on the roller41. The amplitude of movement of the auxiliary arm in this instance isaccurately adjustable by a set-screw 47, which is seated in a threadedsocket in the end of the tongue 46.

At the left of the auxiliary arm 38 and upon the reduced portion 31 ofthe bolt 29 is loosely mounted a drum 48, which is held in position by asleeve 49, interposed between the drum 48 and the shank 31, and has acollar 50 at the outerend thereof, whichcoperates with a suitable grooveformed inthe drum 48 and prevents it from shiftinglaterally thereon. Thesleeve 49 is adapted to be clamped fast to the bolt in stationaryposition by' means of the tightening-nut 51, and is therefore madeslightly longer than the drum 48 in order to permit the free play of thelatter thereon, as shown in Fig. 5. At its end adjacent to the auxiliaryarm 38 the drum 48 IOC IIO

carries a sheave 52, having a deep V-shaped groove 53 therein, which isadapted to re ceive and to secu rely hold the thread,which is wound in asingle turn around the sheave 52- and in the groove thereof, beforepassing to the thread-rolls 35, 41, and 36. The object of this drum andsheave is to prevent back motion of the thread and to secure itagainstbeing drawn backwardly by the motion of the pull-off mechanism, and tothis end I provi-de on the outer or left-hand end of the drum 48 aratchet-wheel 54, with the teeth of which engages a pawl 55, mounted`upon a pivotscrew 56, carried by a short forwardly-projecting arm 57,which is mounted upon the end of the shank 31 of the bolt 29, as clearlyshown in Figs. 2 and 5. The arm 57 has at its end a small wire spring58, secured thereto by a screw 59, which spring is adapted to pressagainst the under side of the pawl and hold it inengagement with theteeth of the ratchet-wheel 54, it being understood that these teeth arepointed in a left-hand direc-v tion, as seen in Fig. l, whereby toprevent the backward rotation of the drum 48. The bolt 29 and thesleeves 39 and 49 thereon, together with the arm 57, are all securelyclamped fast in rigid position by means ot' the nut 51, andthe arm 57 isthus prevented from being rotated by the reaction of theratchet-wheel,while at the same time it may be readily adjusted inangular position.

In the operation of the device v(which is in connection with either athread-hook or shuttle mechanism for passing the machine-thread over thebobbin) the takeup-lever ll is given a quick swing upwardly by its cam,thus swinging the takeup-arm 28 upwardly and releasing enough thread topermit of the drawing out of the thread-loop to pass over the bobbin;and as soon as this has taken place the takeup-lever is swung downwardlyagain by the takeup-cam, and the takeuparm 2S is likewise swungdownwardly, drawing the loop down over the bobbin and finally pullingthe loop taut. At the end of the downward swing of the takeup-arm or atany point of its downward movement, to prevent any sudden jar upon thethread and breaking of the same, the yieldable mounting of the auxiliaryarm 38, effected by the spring 45, causes the auxiliary arm to yield toa slight extent as soon as the stitch has become taut, whereby thethread is prevented from becoming broken when the takeup arm movesdownwardly to take up the thread-loop. At the same movement thethread-lock lever is brought into action by its cam,'and, pressing inthe groove 22 of the tension-wheel, prevents the latter from rotating,in order to keep the takeuparm from drawing new thread from the wax-pot.

The locking-sheave 52 is operative at all times to prevent any backmotion of the thread, but especially to resist the backward pullexercised upon it by the pull-off motion, which draws the thread fromthe tensionwheel.

While I have shownin the accompanying drawings the preferred form ofmyinvention, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise form shown, for many of the details may be changed in form orposition without affecting the operativeness or utility of my invention,and I therefore reserve the right to make all such modifications as areincluded within the scope of the following claims,or of mechanicalequivalents to the structures set forth.

Having thus described myinvention, what Iclaim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is i l. In a shoe and leather sewing-machineof the lockstitch type, the combination of a pivot-bolt, a groovedsheave mounted to turn loosely thereon and adapted to hold the threadagainst frictional movement thereover, a ratchet-wheel secured to saidsheave, an arm mounted on said bolt and clamped thereto, a

pawl carried by said arm and engaging with said ratchet-wheel to preventbackward rotation of said sheave, and a takeup arm loosely mounted onsaid bolt.

2. In a shoe and leather sewing-machine of thel lockstitch type, thecombination of a pivot-bolt mounted on the frame of the machine, asleeve mounted on said pivot-bolt, a pawl-arm also mounted on saidpivot-bolt, a nut adapted to clamp said sleeve and pawlarm in positionon said bolt, a pawl carried by said pawl-arm, a drum loosely turning ousaid sleeve and having thereon a grooved thread-sheave, a ratchet-wheelengaging with said pawl, and a takeup-arm looselymounted on said sleeve.

3. In. a shoe and leather sewing-machine, the combination of atakeup-arm pivotally mounted at one end, a pair of thread-rolls carriedat different points of said arm, a recurved auxiliary arm pivotallymounted upon the same axis as said takeup-arm and arranged to projectbelow said takeup-arm and upwardly between the rolls carried thereby,and a thread-roll mounted' on the end of said takeup-arm.

4. In a shoe and leather sewing machine, the combination of a takeup-armpivotally mounted at one end, a pair of thread-rolls carried atdifferent points of said arm, a recurved auxiliary arm pivotally mountedupon the same axis as said takeup-arm and arranged to project below saidtakeup-arm and upwardly between the rolls carried thereby, a thread-rollmounted on the end of said takeup-arm, and a spring arranged toresiliently maintain said auxiliary arm in an upwardly-pressed position.

5. In a shoe and leather sewing machine of the lockstitch type, thecombination of a takeup-arm pivotally mounted upon a horizontal axis, apair of thread -rolls carried thereby at different distances from saidaxis, means for oscillating said takeup-arm, a J- shaped auxiliary armmounted on the same axis as said takeup-arm and extending below thelatter and up between the rolls thereof, a thread-roll carried at theend of said takeuparm, a spring arranged to press against the base ofsaid auxiliary arm to hold it in upwardly-projected position, and atongue proj ecting backwardly from the hub-of said aux iliary arm andconfined so as to have a limited adjusting movement.

6. In ashoe and leather sewing-machine, the combination of a pivot-pinmounted in the frame of the machine, a takeup-arm pivotally mounted onsaid pin andhaving a pair of thread-rolls thereon, means for oscillatingsaid takeup-arm at the proper times, an auxiliary arm pivotally mountedon said pivot- 'pin and arranged to extend downwardly beauxiliary arm, adrum mounted to turn on said pivot-pin, a tension-sheave having a V- IOOIIO

shaped groove and a ratchet-wheel formed integrally with said drum, anda pawl adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet-wheel to prevent thesame from having a backward movement, whereby the machine-thread isarranged to be carried around said tension*- sheave and subsequentlyaround one of said takeup-rolls, the third said takeup-roll and theother of said first-mentioned rolls in order, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a shoe and leather sewing machine of the lockstitch type, thecombination of a boss projecting from the frame of the machine at thelower front portion thereof, a shouldered pivot-pin mounted in saidboss, a takeup-arm pivotally mounted on said pin, a takeup-linkpivotally connected to said takeup-arm, a takeup-lever connected to theopposite end of said link, a takeup-cam adapted to operate the saidlever and mounted on the main shaft of the machine, a pair ofthread-rolls carried by said takeup-arm, a reeurved auxiliary armpivotallyy mounted on said pivot-pin and extending downwardly and thenupwardly between saidthread-rolls, a third thread-roll carried by theend of said auxiliary arm, a drum having a tension-sheave and aratchetwheel thereon also pivotally mounted on said pin, a collaredsleeve interposed between said drum and auxiliary arm and the pivot-pin,a paWl-bar carried by the end of said pivot-pin, a nut on the end ofsaid pivot-pin clamping the pawl bar and said sleeve in positionthereon, and a spring-pressed pawl carried by said pawl-bar and arrangedto engage the teeth of said ratchet-wheel.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH LOUIS KIEFFER. Witnesses:

F. D. AMMEN, vF. MYNARD.

